Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-06
Another View of It.

To the Ed,tor Of the Dispatch:
Your correspondent, " A Democrat" in
the Dispatch Of Thursday, 30th ul.imo, IN
I'M article headed How the People
Stand" says: " With much unanimity the
people have fixed on the Riddleberger bill
as basis Of compromise OF the debt, and il
would be oXpedient for the Democratic
convention TO announce that as the most
the farmers can do"
But is it right to attempt 10 bind the
State by mere legislative action as distin-
guished from constitutional requirement
for a longer period than from one Legisls-
iure To another? and is "A Democrat
sure that the people continue " fixed on the
Riddleberger bill" as they once werei ]
have studied the subject very carefully and
| have at doubts Of it. In fact, think a
very large majority OF the people are now
opposed 10 a settlement on the basis Of that
bill. What has wrought the change?
In the negotiations OF the debt commits
sion The bondhOlders demanded Sj3,2t7,-
5SS-Sonate Document Is, page 10. The
joint committee Of the Legislature offered
$24, 227, zoe. They made this offer, the
equivalent OF the l.iddlebergeT bin, with an
honest protest that the State could pay no
more without AN increase OF taxes or a
reduction Of the amount which the State
now supplies for the maintenance OF her
free schools" y; TO neither VI which would
the people submit-DocUment IS, page :.
TheIeupon the bOndholders withdrew what
they called "the offer "-au offer demand
ing one Third more than we could pay
"made by The resolution Of the
bordholders OF the public meeting
held in London on the 2ith OF September
List 10 entertain compromise based Ga the
present taxation and available revenue OF
the State after providing for the cOnstitu-
tIonal appropriations for government,
schools, and other public expenditures,
and clam their full rights a. established bV
law" The English bondbolders had So
licited an invitation to come to Virginia;
they got it and came through their cOm-
mjs.ionets; and here on the spot. and vita
the assistance OF select committee Of The
Legislature and the exh bltIon OF all
the documents they wanted, they eX-
aminCd into the resources, the needs.
and the constitutional requirements
for expenditures Of the state. We
know, whether they admit 10 or not, that
they saw for themselves the utter proStra.
ton OF the rural districts, which paw far
larger part OF the entire revenue; they saw
now NHOliv uHdDlt lucy NtIt W DtdE tuc
smallest increase OF taxation. And with
their eyes thus opened they continued their
exorbitant demand, "claimed their full
rights as established by law"-that Is. by
the illegal, usurping DEGREES Of partisan
and Inscriptions judges; employed addi.
tioual counsel TO enforce the DEGREES, and
redoubled their efforts TO bankrupt tae
state by tempting sordid men to force their
coupons upon the Treasury.
For upwards Of five years The offer con-
tanned IN the RiddIeberge bill his stood
upon the statute-Dook. In all that time the
bondholders have failed to accept 1t; and
now body which claims, II not repre-
sentative right. certainly controlling In
fluence over them all, has rejected this
offer, has insutsd the State, and has gone
TO work with renewed determination 20 do
what the people believe will ruin them.
Thus have the bondholders declared war
against all that constitutes Virginia; they
have attacked Der life; they have driven
Der TO the wall, aud they deserve to
be treated as deadly enemies. The
people know and feel that, except as 10 the
bonds which baye been funded, or may be
funded under this Law, and which are So
cred, they are absolyed from all the obliga,